לרפואת נעמי בת טובה
ואליענה רינה בת אלעזר יעקב
Nine piles of matzah and one of chametz were placed [aside]. A mouse came and took [something from one of the piles] and entered a house that had been checked. If we do not know whether it took either chametz or matzah, the house must be checked [again], for every instance where [a doubt arises and the presence of both the permitted and forbidden substances] is fixed [קבוע], [is judged] as if they were present in equal amounts [and he must check].
The reason is [explain the meforshim] that even though it is only a case of safek - bedikas chometz was decreed for cases of safek.
But let's see the next halacha:
There were two piles: one of chametz and one of matzah, and two houses: one that had been searched and one that had not been searched. Two mice came; one took chametz and one took matzah [and they entered the houses] without our knowing which house the mouse holding the chametz entered...
Similarly, there were two houses which had been checked, with one pile of chametz before them. A mouse took [from the pile and entered a house]. However, we do not know which house he entered...
or we saw which one he entered, a person followed him, checked [for chametz], and did not find anything...
Similarly, when there were nine piles of matzah and one of chametz, and a loaf became separated from the piles, and we do not know whether it was chametz or matzah: If a mouse took the loaf that became separated and entered the house that had been checked:
In all of these cases, there is no need to check a second time, because the presence of the forbidden substance is not fixed.
But wait a second! It is true that the presence of the forbidden substance is not fixed - but it is nevertheless still a case of safek and bedikas chometz was decreed for cases of safek???
